Electro-stim beats no training — not the gym.
Whole-body electromyostimulation improved maximum strength and power in sportspeople and athletes compared to no training, though effects were small to moderate and non-significant when compared directly to voluntary exercise.
Compiled by FitTools from the study cited below
The citation, figures and study details on this page are taken mechanically from the source record. No human editor has reviewed it.
Published 25 July 2026
- Study design
- Review
- Evidence
- preliminary
- Published
- 25 July 2026
Key takeaway
What it shows: Meta-analysis of 19 WB-EMS groups and 21 controls (18 trials for strength, 8 for power); high heterogeneity for strength (I² 86%); when superimposed on or versus traditional resistance exercise, effects were non-significant; applicability across sport disciplines variable.
Study details
- Design
- Review
- Journal
- Muscles
- Published
- 25 July 2026
What they did
A meta-analysis pooled 19 whole-body electromyostimulation groups against 21 controls, covering 18 trials for strength and 8 for power.
What they found
EMS improved maximum strength and power against no training, with small-to-moderate effects — but the advantage vanished when compared directly with voluntary exercise.
Where it fits
The honest read: EMS beats doing nothing, not lifting. Heterogeneity for strength was high, so results vary considerably between studies.
The source
Effects of Longitudinal Whole-Body Electromyostimulation on Maximum Strength and Power in Sportspeople and Athletes-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Muscles 2026
Read the study →Related tools & guides
More research, with the reality check: every study we hold → · this week’s → · or open the full Pulse feed →